NFL notebook: RBs Johnson, Portis work out for Bengals

With Cedric Benson's status for Sunday's game against Buffalo and the two games after that unknown, the Bengals worked out veteran running backs Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis yesterday.

With Cedric Benson’s status for Sunday’s game against Buffalo and the two games after that unknown, the Bengals worked out veteran running backs Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis yesterday.

A league spokesman said that a decision on Benson’s appeal of a three-game suspension was not reached yesterday and that there is no timetable on a decision. If word does not come down today, that means he would likely play this week against the Bills.

Benson is the third player to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss an off-field incident that happened during the lockout. But he is believed to be the first to be suspended for a violation of the personal conduct policy during it.

— Joe Reedy

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Colts bring back former quarterback

The Colts are bringing back veteran quarterback Dan Orlovsky.

A person familiar with the deal confirmed the signing but requested anonymity because the Colts had not yet announced the move.

Orlovsky spent training camp with the Colts this summer and was released during the final cuts.

But with Peyton Manning out after neck surgery and Kerry Collins trying to recover from a sore throwing shoulder and possible concussion, Indianapolis needed depth.

The only other quarterback on the active roster is Curtis Painter. The emergency quarterback is punter Pat McAfee.

Governor gives boost to proposed L.A. stadium

The developer behind a $1.2?billion plan to build a football stadium in downtown Los Angeles got a key boost with a law that will help it avoid lengthy court fights.

Billing the measure as a job creation push, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill for a 72,000-seat stadium next to the convention center by Anschutz Entertainment Group.

With California’s unemployment rate in double digits, Brown said the stadium, to be called Farmer’s Field, would create 12,000 construction jobs and 11,000 permanent jobs.

The bill would expedite resolution of legal challenges to the group’s project, sending lawsuits over its environmental impact directly to the California Court of Appeal and bypassing the Superior Court. The appeals court would have to make a ruling within 175 days.

The group would avoid a protracted and costly court battle that could hold up construction of the stadium, which could break ground as early as June if it passes environmental muster and secures an NFL team.

In return, the group pledged to build a “green stadium” and make it public-transit friendly.

Snowflake included on 2014 Super Bowl logo

Goodell noticed the snowflake in icy blue-and-white, centered before the George Washington Bridge, during the debut of the host committee’s logo for the 2014 Super Bowl.

“I think that’s great,” the NFL commissioner said. “A little snow would be great for us. But whatever comes our way, we’re going to be prepared for it.”

The game at MetLife Stadium will be the first outdoor Super Bowl in a cold-weather venue. Although the lowest Super Bowl kickoff temperature has been 39 degrees, average February temperatures at East Rutherford, N.J., are 24 to 40 degrees.

Notable

The Houston Texans released running back Steve Slaton and signed Chris Ogbonnaya from the practice squad. The 5-foot-9, 209-pound Slaton was a third-round pick in 2008 and was the NFL’s top rookie rusher with 1,282 yards. He rushed for 437 yards, but fumbled seven times in 2009 and was placed on injured reserve after 11 games. He had neck surgery after the season and never regained his form. … The New York Jets placed tight end Jeff Cumberland on injured reserve. The Brookhaven grad, in his second season, suffered a torn right Achilles tendon Sunday against Oakland. … New Orleans placed kicker Garrett Hartley on injured reserve, leaving 41-year-old veteran John Kasay as their primary place-kicker. Hartley, 25, has been out since suffering a right hip injury in the third exhibition game. Kasay, in his 21st season, has made all six of his field goal attempts in the Saints’ first three games, including one from 53 yards.

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